Poker machine reform angers Australian campaigners

The Australian government has back tracked on poker machine reforms which has angered anti-gambling campaigners.

Tasmanian independent MP Andrew Wilkie described the move as a “shocking betrayal” of the Australian community.

“Both parties don’t give a toss about problem gamblers and are beholden to their pokies industry political donors,” Mr Wilkie said.

“The Labor party is weak and uncaring, and no better than the Liberals, when it comes to gambling reform.”

In 2012 the Australian parliament passed measures to curb the poker machine expansion and allowing customers to withdraw large amounts of cash from clubs offering poker machines, in an attempt to protect problem gamblers.

However the coalition is now repealing that measure after gambling clubs lobbied strongly against it.

At the time mandatory pre-commitment technology required gamblers to nominate the amount of money they are prepared to lose, but now that is being removed again.

A spokesman said Labor wanted to amend the bill to ensure that pokies venues carrying out voluntary pre-commitment technology trials can be connected to statewide schemes.

Problem gambling counsellor Kate Roberts told a Senate hearing on Monday that repealing the laws would put their efforts back 15 years.

 

 

 

 

 

News source courtesy from: http://www.news.com.au/national/breaking-news/labor-sells-out-on-gambling-wilkie-says/story-e6frfku9-1226780020190